The Chaco Meridian: Centers of Political Power in the Ancient Southwest (Paperback)

by Stephen H. Lekson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Southwestern archaeologists have long pondered the meaning and importance of the monumental 11th-century structures in Chaco Canyon. Now, Stephen H. Lekson offers a lively, provocative thesis, which attempts to reconceptualize the meaning of Chaco and its importance to the understanding of the entire Southwest. Chaco was not alone, according to Lekson, but only one of three capitals of a vast politically and economically integrated region, a network that incorporated most of the Pueblo world and that had contact as far away as Central America. A sophisticated astronomical tradition allowed for astrally aligned monumental structures, great ceremonial roads and-upon the abandonment of Chaco Canyon in the 12th century-the shift of the regional capital first to the Aztec site, then Paquime, all located on precisely the same longitudinal meridian. Lekson's ground-breaking synthesis of 500 years of Southwestern prehistory-with its explanation of phenomena as diverse as the Great North Road, macaw feathers, Pueblo mythology, and the rise of kachina ceremonies-will be of great interest to all those concerned with the prehistory and history of the American Southwest.

About the Author
Stephen H. Lekson teaches at the University of Colorado.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: AltaMira Press (March 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761991816
• ISBN-13: 978-0761991816
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,290 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Synthesizing the Southwest, September 12, 2000

By	John R. Foulks (Pueblo West, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chaco Meridian: Centers of Political Power in the Ancient Southwest (Hardcover)

What marvelous ideas are incorporated into this model of a regional ideological "plan" for the prehistoric SW! As a teacher who regularly takes my classes to Casas Grandes, I would applaud Lekson; and take those to task who chop the Mimbres off at the NM/Mex. border--the strong presence of Mimbres as far south as Casas & vicinity is another strong point in favor of Lekson's idea. The mark of a really good hypothesis is that it makes one THINK long after the reading is done. I still find myself, months after the first reading, pondering the linguistic implications: was there a "lingua franca" for the SW in which this meridian-if it existed-was the "noon sun line" (the "central place" in the SW region)? The sun dagger at Chaco might back that up. If so, was the edge of the Plains the "sunrise boundary" and the Pacific the "sunset boundary? Is it even possible that, along with cognitive maps to get from central Mexico to the 4 Corners, the ancients actually understood that the watersheds flowed east OR west from this general meridian?? Wow. Lekson has been decades in formulating the concept; lets hope it is taken further. We constantly need reminded that sites aren't isolated; they belonged to much greater cultures--Lekson is a thinker with the big picture.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A review from Amazon UK, October 11, 1999

By A Customer

[e-mail] from Virginia, USA , 21 May, 1999 Provides provocative new views of the Anasazi culture A book that breaks the mold of most published archaeology literature. "The Chaco Meridian" takes an entertaining world view approach to the Anasazi culture, building a case for long distance interaction between Chaco, Paquime and further south into Mexico. Lekson presents information in a way that is refreshing and thought provoking (the book was difficult to put down once I began to read). Lekson discusses architectural and archaeological relationships that appear to be very obvious, yet he is one of the first to openly package Chaco, Aztec, Paquime and the general southwestern US into a common culture, and make these ideas available to the general public. There are no geopolitcal or academic borders in this book. Thanks for the good reading !

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A huge step forward in southwest U.S. archaeology, November 16, 1999

By	Don Hintz (Richmond, VA USA) - See all my reviews

A thought provoking book that in a subtle fashion entertains as well as compels the reader to turn the page for the next surprise. Yet, Leskon's case for an elite Pueblo group makes sense if one can forget or put aside the static approach to previous Pueblo research. Leskon mixes and stirs data that has been available for years and in the end wraps it into a package that attempts to describe the Pueblo culture through time rather than a series of start and stop/boom and bust cultures. Finally, someone steps forward and takes a chance. The mechanics of the Chaco, Aztec, Paquime sequence is nicely presented and a strong case is made, yet the story leaves one hanging with respect to the whys, and where did it all begin and end. Includes a surprising and good comparison with the Mississippian culture, albeit short (perhaps the subject of another book). Thank you for the good read!